Enjoying more than just the banana
 

Hi all!

Though bananas are yummy, other parts of the plant can be used as well. Check below for great ideas!!!!!! If you have others, please comment below.


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The following is an excerpt from one of the best books ever!!!!!

"Growing Tasty Tropical Plants* (like....) *in any home, anywhere.

by Laurelynn G. Martin and Byron E. Martin
copyright 2010 by Storey Publishing
210 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
Storey Publishing : Books for Country Living Since 1983



Leaves - Wrap foods in banana leaves to seal in moisture and nutrients. Good candidates include codfish with herbs, or a favorite Thai dish of stcky rice and coconut milk porridge (khao dome). A small pork roast or beef roast can be slow-cooked in banana leaves for delicious flavor:08:

pseudostems - the hearts (insides of banana stems) are eaten as a vegetable in Southeast Asia. They are rinsed several times in salt water, chopped, and then cooked in lime juice and coconut milk for flavor.

flowers- In Southeast Asia, the banana flower is considered a delicacy:drum: and is often chopped up and stir-fried with spices. For a special touch, use the magenta colored banana flower as a serving dish. The flower is said to be an effective cure for painful menstrual disorders and is also considered good for lactating mothers; it is high in vitamins A and C.

Green bananas- Unripe bananas can be sliced and fried in oil, then served as chips.

Ripe bananas - A great source of Vitamin B6 and potassium. Slice them onto cereal or eat them straight up. Ripe bananas make a delicious puree for cooking.

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I hope this brings out the chef in all of us! :woohoonaner:

Sincerely,
Kbud

Re: Enjoying more than just the banana
 

Thanks for this, I had been meaning to ask if anyone had actually tried these. I remember seeing Cody Lundin of Dual Survival eating the heart of the p-stem, but I was too chicken to try it last week when I chopped one of my plants back.

Also, all of the flower is edible? The bracts seem soo tough almost like latex.

Re: Enjoying more than just the banana
 

I'd like to add that when making savory tamales (pork, chicken, cheese, etc) I *highly* prefer using banana leaves over corn husks to wrap and steam them in. The flavor is just so much more complimentary. I save the corn husks for making sweet tamales with.

I've heard the starchy corm of the banana is also edible, which makes sense if you look at the edibility of other related plants. Haven't yet had the chance to try it myself, but there was an elderly woman in the Bay Area of California who grew bananas in her backyard specifically for this use, so I'd imagine there's something to it!

Re: Enjoying more than just the banana
 

Thank you all for responding! Sorry I havent been on in a while, but I am glad for your support. I personally have not tried these methods, I was merely throwing out publiscised ideas, so I can't really help you there. There are of course, tons of people who would know, of course!

Kbud

Re: Enjoying more than just the banana
 

Flower is a cure---AAAHH now I REEEEALLY need to get started growing! I know this post is old but I'm wondering how exactly do you prepare the said flower and how much of it?